Mother in Chinese: 妈妈 (māma), Mom and Other Words for Mother
Mother in Chinese is 妈妈 (māma). Hear it, learn formal and casual words for mom, grandma and mother-in-law, and how to say happy Mother's Day in Chinese.
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Mother in Chinese is 妈妈 (māma): it is one of the very first words Chinese children say, and one of the warmest.
How to pronounce 妈妈#
The first 妈 has a high, flat first tone; the second is a short, light neutral tone: MĀ-ma. Take care with the tone, because the syllable ma changes meaning with each one.
This little set is why the Chinese tones matter so much. Practise the four of them, then come back and say 妈妈 clearly.
妈妈今天在家做饭。
Mom is cooking at home today.
我和妈妈一起去公园。
I am going to the park with Mom.
Other words for mom in Chinese#
- 妈 mā is what you call out at home: 妈，我回来了！ mā, wǒ huílái le! Mom, I'm home!
- 母亲 mǔqīn appears in writing, speeches and documents; it is rarely used to address your own mother.
- 老妈 lǎomā is how you talk about your mom with close friends. Here 老 does not mean old.
Grandma and mother-in-law#
English says "grandma" for both grandmothers, but Chinese always tells the father's side from the mother's side. 外 wài, outside, marks the mother's family: 外婆, and 外公 wàigōng for grandpa.
Family words#
Happy Mother's Day in Chinese#
In China, Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday of May, the same day as in the United States. For your mom's birthday, see how to say happy birthday in Chinese with the polite 您.
Find more basic Chinese words about family and everyday life, each with its recording.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say mother in Chinese?
Say 妈妈 (māma), the everyday word for mom, used to call your mother and to talk about her. In writing and formal speech, mother is 母亲 (mǔqīn).
How do you say grandma in Chinese?
Chinese has two words. Your father's mother is 奶奶 (nǎinai), and your mother's mother is 外婆 (wàipó), also called 姥姥 (lǎolao) in northern China.
How do you say happy Mother's Day in Chinese?
Say 母亲节快乐 (Mǔqīn Jié kuàilè), happy Mother's Day, or tell your mother directly 妈妈，我爱你 (māma, wǒ ài nǐ), Mom, I love you.
